New Belgian marathon record set in London

New Belgian marathon record set in London

Bashir Abdi beat the previous Belgian marathon record set by Vincent Rousseau when he took part in this year’s London marathon on Sunday. The European 10,000m silver medallist completed the course in 2h07:03, beating the previous Belgian record of 2h07:20. Vincent Rousseau set that record in Berlin on the 24th of September 1995.

The winner was Kenyan Eliud Kipchoge, the world record holder, who ran the second fastest finish time in history.

Bashir Abdi came 7th overall and ran fast enough to qualify for the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo. He had to complete the course in at least 2h11:30 to qualify. His best time before Sunday was 2h10:46.

Koen Naert qualified for the Olympics at the beginning of the month in Rotterdam by achieving a time of 2h07:39, which was just 20 seconds off the previous Belgian record.

Eliud Kipchoge finished the latest London marathon in 2h02:37. This was the 4th time he has won the London marathon (2015, 2016 and 2018). It was the second fastest finish time in history, just under a minute slower than his own world record time of 2h01:39 (set in Berlin last year).

Kipchoge, 34, outpaced all his opponents to claim the top spot. Ethiopian Mosinet Geremew, 27, came second with 2h02:55 and his compatriot Mule Wasihun came third, finishing in 2h03:16. Another Ethiopian, Tola Shura Kiata, got fourth place (2h06:57).

British runner Mo Farah finished in 2h05:39, putting him fifth.

In the Women’s race, Kenyan Brigid Kosegi took gold for the first time in her career with a time of 2h18:20. This was her personal best and the fifth fastest time ever for the London race. Last year’s winner Vivian Cheruiyot came second (2h20:14).

Kosgei, 25, won the Chicago marathon and was runner up in London last year. She picked up the pace over the last 25m to overtake everyone except Cheruiyot, who she caught up with a few kilometres later.

Ethiopian Roza Derje got third place. 


The Brussels Times


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